Container for liquid combinable products



M. 1.. ROLLINS ET AL 3,302,817

CONTAINER FOR LIQUID COMBINABLE PRODUCTS Feb. 7, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1964 WM 5 Tu Z Y N0 N M 75M w W M MA WW 2 Feb. 7, 1967 o1 Ns ET AL. 3,302,817

CONTAINER FOR LIQUID COMBINABLE PRODUCTS Filed Feb. 11, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

Feb. 7, 1967 M. L. ROLLINS ET AL 3,302,817

CONTAINER FOR LIQUID COMBINABLE PRODUCTS Filed Feb. 11, 1964 4 Sheets-$heet 3 Feb. 7, 1967 ROLUNS ET AL 3,302,817

CONTAINER FOR LIQUID COMBINABLE PRODUCTS Filed Feb. 11, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I FIG. 12

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United States Patent 3,302,817 CONTAINER FOR LIQUID CUMBINABLE PRODUCTS Murray L. Rollins, Old Tappan, and Thomas M. Ott, Westwood, N.J., and William H. Enzie, Weston, Conn., assignors to General Foods Corporation, White Plains,

N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 344,065 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-53) This invention relates generally to containers adaptable for packing a product under vacuum, the invention relating more particularly to containers of this type provided with easy opening means effective for breaking the vacuum seal at a discrete location on said container While being maintained submerged below the surface of a product hydrating liquid.

The invention has particular utility for the packaging of liquid combinable products intended to be hydrated under the forced hydration process disclosed in the pending application of Murray L. Rollins. As disclosed in the aforesaid application, dried fruits, vegetables, beverages and other liquid combinable products intended to be hydrated and heated, or simply hydrated as product, offer a considerable advantage to the manufacturer as well as to the consumer. The manufacturer enjoys savings in weight and cost of distribution in the case of a substantially dehydrated or dry hydratable product. The product per se is usually hydratable to a preferred quality in terms of flavor, color, concentration and other values. The ability to control these qualities is appreciated by most consumers.

The term hydrating as applied herein is intended to denote the combining with or impregnation of products by a liquid substance such as water. The term i intended to include the saturation or wetting of a nonsoluble solid which has been dehydrated under any possible condition, whether it be under atmospheric pressure, a vacuum, or while in a frozen state. The term also includes the impregnation of solids having soluble elements which are extracted from the solid to become infused with the liquid, such products being ground coffee, tea, or the like. The term is also intended to include the combining of liquid with a soluble product which has been either dehydrated so as to be in the form of a dry powder such as is now commonly known as instant (soluble) coffee, tea, or the like, or which is a soluble substance or combination of dry ingredients not previously dehydrated, such as artificial fruit juices or the like.

By the same taken, the terminology liquid combinable is intended to embrace all products which when combined with a liquid results in or produces a product of the desired consistency, whether it be a dehydrated nonsoluble solid, a solid having soluble elements extractable by the liquid, or a soluble solid which may be either a liquid in dehydrated form or a dry substance or a mixture of ingredients which is completely solubilized when combined with a hydrating liquid such as water or the like.

In accordance with the forced hydration or reconstitution concept of the aforesaid pending application, the liquid combinable product is packaged in a vacuum within a vacuum sealed container. When ready for use, the vacuum seal of the container, at a discrete area in the surface of the container, is broken while in liquid tight communication with the hydrating liquid. Consequently, the hydrating liquid is forced under atmospheric pressure into the container and into the minute voids or interstices within the individual specimens of the product as well as between the voids existing between the individual specimens of the product. In the case of products adapted to be heated for use, the hydrating liquid may be preheated so as to elevate the temperature of the product incident to the hyice dration thereof. The proces has been found to be particularly advantageous with respect to hydratable food products, especially freeze dried food products, although it should be understood that the process has useful applicability to product other than those in the food category.

In accordance with the present invention, a vacuum scalable container is provided with means effective for readily releasing the vacuum in the container at a discrete location on the containers surface. Preferably, the vacuum release means is disposed so as to effect an open ing at one end of the container, while held submerged in a hydrating liquid, thus enabling the opposite end of the container to be handled or held at a point above the level of the hydrating liquid. As additional features of the invention, means are provided for preventing contamination of the portion of the container intended to be submerged in the hydrating liquid and for insulating the nonsubmerged portion, if desired, in cases where the hydrating liquid is preheated, so as to enable comfortable handling of the container when its temperature may have been raised to a level exceeding human tolerance.

It is therefore an object of the invention to enable the easy release of vacuum from a sealed container.

It is a further object of the invention to enable the easy release of vacuum from a sealed container at a location thereof which is submerged in a liquid.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for preventing contamination of a container intended to be partially submerged in a hydrating liquid, and for insu1ating the portion of said container not intended to be submerged in said liquid.

Further objects of the invention together with the features contributing thereto and the advantages accruing therefrom will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 inverted and partially submerged in a body of hydrating liquid and with the easy opening vacuum release feature actuated;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of a container having an easy opening feature according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a detail side elevational view, partly in section, of the container of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of the container of FIG. 5 inverted and partially submerged in a body of liquid and with the easy opening vacuum release feature activated;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of a container and associated easy opening means in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view in section of the container in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the container of FIG. 8 inverted and partially submerged in a body of liquid with the easy opening feature activated;

FIG. 10 is a view of a container provided with a protective overwrap feature;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but with the overwrap partly removed;

FIG. 12 is a detail view of a protective hood which may form a part of the overwrap feature;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a second embodiment of a protective overwrap feature;

FIG. 14 is a view in elevation of a container illustrating a third embodiment of a protective overwrap feature;

FIG. 15 is a view of a container in elevation illustrating a fourth embodiment of a protective overwrap feature;

FIG. 16 is a view of a container in elevation illustrating a fifth embodiment of a protective overwrap feature.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the container will be seen to comprise a cylindrical can body 1 which may be formed of conventional packaging material of a weight suitable for withstanding atmospheric pressure, such as tin plate, aluminum or the like.

The body portion is joined by conventional seaming techniques to a bottom end closure and an upper end closure 2 which is formed to provide, preferably at the central portion thereof, an opening 3. Secured to the surface of the end closure 2 ina position to cover and hermetically seal the opening 3 is the enlarged end 4 of a pull tab 5 and comprising, an elongate strip of material such as metal foil, plastic or the like, capable of presenting an air barrier with respect to the opening 3 and having a tensile strength sufiicient to peel the ad hered end portion 4 from the end closure to expose the opening 3 when a pulling force is applied to the opposite end of the tab 5. The extended strip of the pull tab 5, it will be noted, is doubled back over the enlarged end portion 4 and extends over the edge of the container and longitudinally along the side of the container body 1 and thence is bent around the opposite edge of the container body so as to overlie the bottom closure, not shown, of the container. If desired, the end of the pull strip 5 may be lightly adhered to the bottom end closure so as to retain it in the position shown in FIG. 2 until such time as the container is to be opened.

Release of the vacuum may be accomplished after inverting the container, as shown in FIG. 3, and partially submerging it within a body of hydrating liquid 6 confined in a pan or other utensil 7, by grasping the free end of the pull tab 5 and pulling upwardly to result in peeling off the enlarged end 4 of the pull tab to uncover the opening 3. Uncovering of the opening 3 enables the hydrating liquid 6 to enter the container under force of atmospheric pressure to thereby hydrate the liquid combinable products contained therein in accordance With the forced hydration concept herein before mentioned. Provision of the elongate pull tab 5 permits the vacuum seal to be broken *While submerged in the liquid in a simple and easy manner without requiring the hands of the user to come in contact with the liquid.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention wherein is provided a cylindrical container body 11 hermetically sealed in a conventional manner to an end closure 12. In this embodiment the end closure 12 is formed at its central area with a plurality of discrete perforations 13. Adhered to the top surface of the end closure 12 is a. film, which may be in the shape of a disc 14 of a water soluble substance, such as for example amylose starch or the like, of sufficient weight or thickness to provide an air barrier relative to the perforations .13 when the interior of the container is under the desired degree of vacuum. The film 14 may be adhered to the surface of the closure 12 by heat sealing techniques, if desired. To further assure the firm anchoring of the water soluble film 14 to the end closure, an overlying ring shape-d film 15 of heat scalable material may be adhered to the end closure along its peripheral edge, the interior diameter of said ring shaped film being slightly less than the diameter of the water soluble disc 14, but greater than the diameter of the circumferential por tion of the closure 12 embracing the perforations 13.

In order to protect the water soluble disc from tampering, air permeation over long storage periods, or acci dental disintegration by exposure to high humidity or moisture, an overseal film 16 of air and moisture-impervious heat scalable material, such as polyfoil or the like, is secured around its peripheral edge to the end closure 12, the diameter of film 16 being somewhat greater than the outside diameter of the ring 15. Preferably, the overseal film is formed with a protruding unsealed tab 17 to facilitate grasping of the overseal film and removing it just prior to the use ofthe container for hydrating the contained liquid combinable product.

In use of the container, the overseal film 16 is grasped at the tab portion 17 and peeled off the end closure 12, thus leaving still afiixed to the end closure the ringlike film 15 and the water soluble disc 14. The container is then inverted, as shown in FIG. 6, and placed in a body of hydrating liquid 18 confined in a suitable pan or utensil 19. Upon making contact with the liquid 18, the water soluble disc 14 dissolves to expose the perforations 13 and thus break the vacuum seal, whereupon the hydrating liquid 18 is forced under atmospheric pressure into the container to hydrate the product in accordance with the aforesaid forced hydration concept. Upon completion of the hydration, the container is removed from the liquid 18 and one or the other end closure is removed by any suitable device or implement to enable access to the hydrated product.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention wherein the container also comprises, as in the other embodiments, a cylindrical body portion 21 sealed by a conventional seaming technique to an end closure 22. In this embodiment, the end closure includes small discrete perforations 23 arranged in a circular pattern. Suitably adhered to the top surface of the end closure 22 is a disc-shaped film 24 of heat shrinkable material such as polyvinylidene chloride, or the like, of sufficient thickness or weight as to provide agas or air barrier with respect to the perforations 23. For protection from tampering or air permeation through ex tended shelf life, an overseal film 25 is afiixed to the end closure 22 along its peripheral edge, the diameter of the overseal film 25 being somewhat greater than the diameter of the heat shrinkable film 24. Preferably, a protruding tab 26 is formed on the film 25 to facilitate grasping and removal of the overseal film in preparation for the hydrating step as hereinafter described. In preparing for use of the contained product, the overseal film 25 is removed by pulling on the tab 26 which leaves the film 24 still adhered to the end closure and providing at least a temporary gas or air barrier. The container is then inverted and partially submerged in a body of liquid 27 contained in a suitable pan or utensil 28. This embodiment of the invention is one adapted for use wherein the liquid combinable product is intended to be heated in conjunction with being hydrated. Therefore, the liquid 27 has been preheated to the degree required to bring the product to the desire temperature. The film 24 upon being placed in contact with the heated hydrating liquid 27 shrinks under the influence of the heat to which it is exposed, thus causing the diameter of the film 24 to decrease to a point whereat the film exposes the circular pattern of perforations 23, thus breaking the vacuum seal of the container. With the vacuum seal thus broken, the hydrating liquid 27 is forced through said openings and into the container to hydrate and heat the liquid combinable product therein in accordance with the forced hydration concept heretofore mentioned. Upon completion of the hydration process, the container is removed from the liquid and the closure is removed by any suitable device or opening implement to enable removal of the contents.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate an overwrap feature which may be employed with any one of the foregoing embodiments of the invention, said overwrap feature being shown in conjunction with the third embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 79. This overwrap feature is intended to protect the container against tampering with or accidental activation of the easy opening means, contamination during handling and storage of the end of the container intended to be submerged in a hydrating liquid, and from excessive heat of the container body in instances Where the hydrating liquid has been highly may be plastic, such as polyethylene or the like, which normally covers the entire circumferential area of the container body portion 21. Covering the end of the can having the easy opening feature, which in the present instance includes the overseal film 25, is a short cupshaped hood 32 which provides sanitary and tamperproof protection for the end closure. The hood fits over the upper edge of the sleeve 31. The sleeve near its midpoint is formed with an interior annular rib 33.

To activate the structure in preparation for use of the container contents, the hood 32 is removed from its protective fitment over the end closure. The container is then pushed upwardly through the sleeve until the bead formed by the seaming of the container body with its bottom end closure limits against the rib 33 formed on the interior surface of the sleeve 31. The container is then inverted and partially submerged in a hydrating liquid as heretofore described to complete the forced hydration of the container contents. The portion of the container submerged in the hydrating liquid is thus maintained free of contamination, until the time of use, by the sleeve 31 and the hood 32, and the protruding section of sleeve 31 provides a means whereby the container can be held in a heated hydrating liquid without having to hold the contatiner itself, the sleeve being formed of a material having low heat conducting properties.

The form of overwrap feature shown in FIG. 13 is shown in conjunction with a container according to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. In this form of overwrap the container body portion 11 and end enclosures are completely covered by a film, preferably heat shrinkable, which will provide water vapor protection for the water soluble film of the easy opening or vacuum release means 15 while at the same time providing protection against tampering and also contamination of the container itself. By virtue of this overwrap protective feature, the use of an overseal film 16, such as described in conjunction with the second embodiment of the invention, can be eliminated. The film 41 may also serve as a surface upon which graphics may be applied.

The form of overwrap illustrated in FIG. 14 is shown in conjunction with containers similar to that of FIG. 13 with the exception that a circumferential bead 51 is formed about the body portion 11 of the container. An overwrap 52 is applied to completely enseal the upper section of the container above the bead 51 and including the end closure having the easy opening or vacuum release means including film 15 applied thereto. The overwrap 52 is formed of a semi-rigid material such as a metallic foil the edges of which are rolled under the bead 51 and sealed thereto so as to provide a protective tamperproof and contamination-free covering for the section of the can intended to be submerged in hydrating liquid and at the same time providing a moisture barrier preventing accidental activation of the Water soluble sealing medium forming part of the easy opening means.

The form of overwrap illustrated in FIG. 15 is shown with a container 11 similar to that shown in FIG. 13 and employing the same type of easy opening or vacuum release means. The overwrap 61 in this instance covers only the top section of the container and is formed of a flexible, preferably foil, material which provides a moisture barrier for the easy opening means associated with the top end closure as well as providing a tamper-proof and contamination-free cover for the portion of the can intended to be submerged in hydrating liquid. The edges of the overwrap 61 are coated with a heat-sealable laminate which enables the sealing thereof to the body portion 11 of the contatiner. A pair of parallel weakened lines 63 joined to a protruding tab 64 defines a tear strip which when lightly pulled completely severs the overwrap to enable easy removal thereof from the container when ready for use.

In the form of protective overwrap illustrated in FIG. 16 there is shown a container 11 similar to that of FIG. 5 wherein the easy opening or vacuum release means includes a ring shaped film 15 associated with a water soluble sealing medium. According to this concept the overwrap features include a cup-shaped holder 71 fitted to the bottom section of the container, said holder being formed of a relatively thick plastic material, preferably foamed, such as polystyrene foam or the like, so as to provide for good heat insulation when the can is inverted and partially submerged in a hydrating liquid preheated, as heretofore described. Covering the entire container, including the cupshaped holder 71, is a film 72 which is preferably of a heat shrinkable material which provides protection against tampering, contamination, and moisture penetration of the water soluble sealing medium of the easy opening or vacuum release means.

While there have been shown and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will of course be understood that many changes in form could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact forms herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the Whole of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A container for use in packaging and hydrating liquid combinable products comprising, an elongate body portion of relatively rigid packing material, end closures of relatively rigid packing material connected to said body portion to define therein a vacuum-sealed enclosure, one of said end closures being formed to define a perforate area intended to be submerged in a hydrating liquid, and easily opened vacuum release means for opening saidcontainer at said perforate area when submerged in a hydrating liquid, said vacuum release means including a film of water-soluble material adhered to said one end closure in sealing relation to said perforate area, said film being solublilized upon submersion in said liquid to expose said perforate area and release said vacuum in the presence of said liquid, said film of water-soluble material being firmly anchored to said one end closure by an overlying centrally apertured foil material secured about its edges to said end closure, said foil material film having an outside dimension greater than that of said water-soluble film and an interior dimension greater than that of said perforate area of said end closure.

2. The invention according to claim 1 including an overseal film of Water-impervious material removably adhered about its edge to said end closure, said overseal film having a dimension greater than the outside dimension of said metal foil film and being peelably removable from said end closure independently of said metal foil and water soluble films.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,239,691 4/1941 Becker 22053 2,642,693 6/1953 Broady 9-323 2,719,647 10/1955 Freeman 220-53 2,740,547 4/ 1956 Huntting 220-24 2,776,787 1/1957 Nicol 220 -24 3,186,581 6/1965 Schneider et al. 220-53 3,204,805 9/1965 May 22024 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER FOR USE IN PACKAGING AND HYDRATING LIQUID COMBINABLE PRODUCTS COMPRISING, AN ELONGATE BODY PORTION OF RELATIVELY RIGID PACKING MATERIAL, END CLOSURES OF RELATIVELY RIGID PACKING MATERIAL CONNECTED TO SAID BODY PORTION TO DEFINE THEREIN A VACUUM-SEALED ENSLOSURE, ONE OF SAID END CLOSURES BEING FORMED TO DEFINE A PERFORATE AREA INTENDED TO BE SUBMERGED IN A HYDRATING LIQUID, AND EASILY OPENED VACUUM RELEASE MEANS FOR OPENING SAID CONTAINER AT SAID PERFORATE AREA WHEN SUBMERGED IN A HYDRATING LIQUID, SAID VACUUM RELEASE MEANS INCLUDING A FILM OF WATER-SOLUBLE MATERIAL ADHERED TO SAID ONE END CLOSURE IN SEALING RELATION TO SAID PERFORATE AREA, SAID FILM BEING SOLUBILIZED UPON SUBMERSION IN SAID LIQUID TO EXPOSE SAID PERFORATE AREA AND RELEASE SAID VACUUM IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID LIQUID, SAID FILM OF WATER-SOLUBLE MATERIAL BEING FIRMLY ANCHORED TO SAID ONE END CLOSURE BY AN OVERLYING CENTRALLY APERTURED FOIL MATERIAL SECURED ABOUT ITS EDGES TO SAID END CLOSURE, SAID FOIL MATERIAL FILM HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIMENSION GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID WATER-SOLUBLE FILM AND AN INTERIOR DIMENSION GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID PERFORATE AREA OF SAID END CLOSURE. 